Brutality. Chaos. Disbelief. Betrayal. A peaceful protest organized by Citizens for Credible Elections (CCE), calling for the resignation of top Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials over alleged incompetence and compromised electoral integrity, turned into a scene of horror. Malawi police stood by. Thugs attacked. Flesh was cut. Citizens screamed. Security watched.
The incident has sparked national and international outrage.
“We call on all political parties to unreservedly denounce, disassociate from, stop the orchestration or endorsement of violence against demonstrators, as such actions amount to an assault on democracy and the rule of law,” said Benedicto Kondowe, Chairperson of the National Advocacy Platform.
The Malawi Law Society said what happened was “a level of betrayal of public trust,” as law enforcement [Malawi Police Service–MPS] and the Malawi Defence Force watched without intervening.
“The Minister has failed to ensure that the police operate within the confines of the Constitution, while the Inspector General has shown incompetence and compromised impartiality.”
The Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops added its voice: “Political violence has never been a solution to differing political beliefs and ideologies. Regardless of the scale and numDer of the evil acts of violence we have seen in the past months/days, peaceful coexistence among people of different political views is possible.”
The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian General Assembly is demanding:
- Swift action to apprehend those responsible for the violence.
- A full review of Malawi Police Service and MDF conduct at demonstrations.
- Disciplinary action against those who failed in their duty.
- All political parties desist from inciting violence.
- A national commitment to peace.
Leader of opposition George Chaponda warned: “Democracy can’t thrive under intimidation. If the police choose to watch while citizens are brutalized, they will be remembered not as enforcers of law and order, but as silence enablers of tyranny.”
CCE lead organiser Sylvester Namiwa, who sustained visible injuries, asked: “Have we reached this point where thugs can attack peaceful gatherings in the presence of the police and MDF? What are [they] doing as security personnel?”
Authorities have remained silent. MLS has since called for the immediate firing of the heads of MPS and Ministry of Homeland Security, citing failure to do as the country’s constitution mandates. President Lazarus Chakwera, the boss of the two heads who are in the crosshairs of MLS, is currently out of the country on official business.
European Union Ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach was quoted by Zodiak Online as saying he was “shocked, disgusted and disappointed,” by the incident, adding: “We have been giving support to police training but this is something we will have to reconsider if police does not make good use of the training, if they seemingly don’t intend to play their role and if their mandate is undermined by instruction from somewhere else.”
What is known for sure is that MPS and MDF personnel were at the scene when the issues raised happened.
Private citizen Brian Kapito reflects on civic failure: “We pay taxes to fund security and public services, yet many misunderstand the foundational roles of state and government. A government…exists to serve the collective interest, not individuals. When this distinction collapses, chaos follows. The brouhaha engulfing Malawi reflects this systemic ignorance — a tragic failure to grasp that governance exists to uphold the common good, not personal agendas.”
